Protecting device.



UNITED STATES Patented September 29, 1903.

JOSEPH' BRONNENKANT, OF RACINE, XVISCOSIN.

PROTECTING DEVICE..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 739,824, dated September 29, 1903. Application tiled October 25,1902. Serial No. 128,822. fNo model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOSEPH BRONNENKANT, residing at Racine, in the county of Racine and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Protecting Devices, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this speciiication.

This invention relates to protecting devices for swollen joints of the human foot; and it more especially relates to protecting devices for swollen metatarsophalangeal joints of the great toe. Numerous devices have from time to time been devised for the protection of the metatarsophalangeal or second joint of the great toe, as these joints in many people become swollen, which is generally caused by the iniiammation ofthe bursa over said joint. These swollen or enlarged joints cause an unsightly foot, besides being extremely painful at times to those possessing them.

The object of this invention is to produce a device for protecting these swollen joints against irritating pressures, a device adapted to be placed against the inner side of the foot and together with the foot to be inserted within the shoe or boot, whereby thoseI portions of the boot or shoe in front of and hehind the enlarged joint will be filled and whereby a support will be afforded for the shank or instep of the foot. These and other objects I attain by means of a device constructed as described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings presented herewith.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a shoe, and the protecting device is shown in dotted lines as it would appear in position on the foot. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the protecting device. Fig. 3 is an edge elevation of this device. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are views in cross,- section taken on the lines 4, 5, and 6, respectively, in Fig. 2.

Throughout the several views like parts are denoted by like characters.

In utilizing this device a shoe or boot of a larger size than is ordinarily chosen will have to be worn. The b oot or shoe will have to be large enough to accommodate the foot with the device when placed on it-that is, the inner line of the shoe or boot will have to escape the outer end of the enlarged joint, so that the side of the shoevwill not unnecessarily press on this joint. The enlarged joint will lie 'Within its .opening or pocket, and the protecting device will till those portions of the shoe in front of and behind this 'joint which are not filled by the foot.

The device will preferably be formed of leather and built up so as to have the proper shape and contour, although, if-desired, other material besides leather may be used. That portion of the device in front of the point designated by o. in Fig. 3 will for the sake of clearness be called the shoe-toe support or filler', and Ythat portion in the rear of the point designated by Z9 in said figure will be called the instep or shank support. The portion intermediate of said points will be called the ball or joint pocket.

The shoe-toe support 7 is thick and solid to form a substantial support for the inner port-ion of the shoe-toe alongside of the great toe, and this portion will preferably extend to within a short distance of the end of the interior of the boot or shoe. concaved or hollowed out, as shown in Fig. 4, to accommodate the great toe, and from the point ot this portion tapers toward the center of the ball and joint pocket.

The shank-supporting portion 8 is thickest at its center, and from the point b it tapers toward the center of theball and joint pocket, and aside from that portion tapering-toward the ball and joint pocket it tapers toward its outer edges. The ball and joint pocket is provided with a hole or opening 9, into which the endof the enlarged joint is adapted to extend.

The portion IO, which is the yportion above the joint-opening 9 connecting the portions 7 and 8, is made thin and preferably provided with a strip 1l of material like-hai'rcloth for 'preventing the portion 10 from Wrinkling as ,the foot is bent.

The portion 12, which Visthe portion connecting portions 7 and 8 below the j oint-opening, is formed thin. It desired for any reason, the shoe-toe-supporting portion 7 may be formed shorter than shown in the drawings, and it may be omitted entirely.

- The outer surface of the device is prefern ably covered with a thin sheet 13 of leather, and the inner surface is also covered with a Its inner side is- IOC thin sheet 14, and these coverings are preferably secured to the fillers by means of some sort of rubber cement which will not be affected b y the moisture and acids emanating from the foot.

To accommodate feet of different shapes, it may be desirable in some cases to form the several portions of the device ina manner differing from that shown here, and this invention contemplates devices for this purpose having different outlines and contours. The contour of the shank-supporting portion prevents the device from slipping out of position While in use, and the formation of the several portions each tends to prevent such slipping.

The shank-supporting portion 8 is preferably provided with a plurality of air vents or openings 16, extending through the same from one side to the other. These air-vents may be of any desired number and of any desired shape or size. The shank portion 8, and more especially that part of the shank portion 8 which lies between the point B and point 17 on the outer surface, removes the pressure of the shoe from the ball and joint of the foot and transfers it to that portion which is most able to stand it.

What'I claim as my invention is.

1. A metatarsophalangeal great-toe-jointf protecting device provided with an opening for said joint, a support for the shank o'r .instep and a shoe-toe support.

2. A metatarsophalangeal great-toe-jointprotecting device, comprising an elongated shield like construction adapted to rest against the side of the foot and having at its medial portion a centrally-located aperture for receiving. the lateral projection of said joint and encircling such projection of the joint, and arearwardly -extending shank, widening and thickening rearwardly so that itis adapted to fit along its length against the side of the foot and to bear against and support the instep.

3. A metatarsophalangeal great-toe-jointprotecting device provided with a shoe-toe support and a shank or instep support connected together by means of a reduced portion adapted to form a pocket for said joint.

In testimony whereof I` affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH BRONNEN KANT.

Vitnesses:

JNO. S. GREEN, ANNA V. FAUsT. 

